Tiger Woods: Book has made him less trusting

Saying he never expected former swing coach Hank Haney would write a book about their years working together, Tiger Woods didn't deny recent events have eaten away at his trust factor.

Announcement of the upcoming release of "The Big Miss" – set for the week before the Masters – comes months after unsavory comments about Woods from former caddie Steve Williams.

Speaking with reporters in Abu Dhabi, Woods agreed with one questioner Tuesday who asked if such occurrences make it "difficult to trust anybody" close to him.

"Hmmm, one might say that," Woods replied.

When the reporter followed up with "That must be so sad, in a way," Woods turned the tables on the exchange.

"Why, do you think it's sad?" Woods asked.

"Do you think so?" the reporter pressed on.

"I'm asking you."

The reporter relented, saying he did "find it sad." Woods replied: "OK, there you go."

Haney's book chronicles his relationship with Woods from the time they began working together in March 2004 to their split five months after a sex scandal disrupted his career, shattered his marriage and blemished his image.

The coach has stated he had no knowledge of the affairs. The book draws from notes Haney took as they spent time on the range, at tournament sites and perhaps 30 days a year staying at Woods' Orlando home.

Last week, Woods told ESPN.com that Haney's actions were "unprofessional" and driven by money.

Haney was one of the few people in Woods' employ who never was asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Even so, the golfer said Tuesday he never thought Haney would turn his observations into a book.

Asked why he never expected it, Woods replied: "I don't know."

Woods also deflected a question asking why a book on the evolution of his golf game would be inappropriate, considering the numerous fans who remain intrigued by a dominant era that led to 14 major titles. Six of those came with Haney at his side.

This week marks Woods' first visit to Abu Dhabi, passing up what for several years had been his traditional season debut at Torrey Pines.

Woods has missed what's now the Farmers Insurance Open just three times since turning pro – in 1997 to play in Asia, in 2009 while still recovering from major knee surgery and two years ago in the scandal's wake. He's won that event six times, plus another when the 2008U.S. Open was played at Torrey Pines.

This time, though, Woods gave a public nod to sponsor HSBC – a financial supporter of the Tiger Woods Foundation – and an appearance fee reported to be $3 million.

"To be honest, a lot of guys who do play around the world, they do get appearance fees," Woods said. "The one place we don't get it is in the U.S."